Coexistence in Medieval Spain: Jews, Christians, and Muslims

Coexistence in Medieval Spain: Jews, Christians, and Muslims

University of Colorado System

关于此课程： This course explores Jewish, Christian, and Muslim intercultural relations in Iberia from the Visigothic era (6th century CE) until the creation of Queen Isabel I and King Ferdinand II Catholic Spain (late 15th century). We evaluate the many identities of the peninsula known as Christian Hispania, Jewish Sefarad, and Islamic al-Andalus. We trace the origins and trajectory of conflict between these communities (the Muslim conquest of Spain, Christian Reconquista, prohibitions blocking intermixing of peoples, and expulsions). We aim to understand conflicts within communities as well, such as the tensions between Christian Arian Visigoths and native Catholic Iberians or the fundamentalist North African Almohad Dynasty that rejected the Spanish Umayyad Caliphate’s preference for religious tolerance. We delve into an appreciation of collaboration and coexistence among these communities. We explore the unique role of the Jewish community who Muslims and Christians depended upon as political and cultural intermediaries as well as their intellectual collaborators. We find the history of how peoples attempted to create and manage viable diverse communities. As we study this history, the Honors Track will employ an investigative process (“The Historian’s Craft”) that involves viewing, reading, analyzing, and reflecting on events, peoples, places, and artifacts.

此课程适用人群： What type of student are you? Casual observer. Interested learner. Engaged investigator.
When I first began studying the history of medieval Spain -- almost thirty-years ago as an undergraduate at the University of Texas at Austin -- it was just a topic that I was curious about. That changed. Garrison Hall and its History Department became a gateway to a new way of viewing our world. The history of coexistence in medieval Spain shaped the rest of my life, first as an undergraduate (1988-1992) and later as a doctoral candidate (2002-2008), and I believe it might do the same for you.
Medieval Spain is one of these places that invites your curiosity to the get the best of you! What I'd you to do as you start this course during Week 1 is to ask yourself a few questions so that you can maximize your enjoyment of the course.
The questions you will ask are: Why are you interested in medieval Spain and its history of Jewish, Christian, and Muslim interrelations? What do you hope to learn from this course? How do you learn and what types of information are most meaningful to you? How much time and effort do you want to dedicate to this course? After completing the course, do you think you will want to study more about Spain and its history ?
These questions and your responses will help determine what type of student are you.
Remember: There is no ideal type of student. Find what works best for you!

This week introduces the idea of co-existence in medieval Spain. We begin our study of medieval Spain by briefly viewing Roman Spain and then learning about the Visigoths. Supplemental information places medieval Iberia within the contexts of European, Byzantine, and Islamic civilizations. The honors section of the course introduces "The Historian's Craft" and the task of "viewing".

In this section of the course, we advance our investigation of medieval Spain to learn about Islamic al-Andalus (Islamic Spain) and Jewish Sefarad (Jewish Spain). This includes a study of the Islamic conquest of Visigothic Spain and the subsequent development of the Umayyad Dynasty. We evaluate the complexities of conflicts between religious groups and within religious groups. We witness interfaith collaboration. Islamic sciences are presented as is the Golden Age of the Spanish Jews. We view Islamic art and architecture. Lastly, in our honors section we continue with our study of the Historian's Craft and the task of "reading".

First, we continue with an investigation of the third principal culture of Iberian Peninsula -- Spanish Christian Hispania. We seek out more specific examples of the Christian kingdom's impact on political, religious, social, intellectual, and economic issues. Next, we examine the rise of the Spanish Christian Kingdom of Castile and Leon and the impact of King Alfonso X "The Learned". We study how Spanish Christians created culture through material objects and architecture. In addition, we explore the complications of Christians governing religious minorities in their lands. The honors section of the course continues with our study of the Historian's Craft and the task of "analyzing".

This section of the course presents the end of coexistence in medieval Spain, which was characterized by the creation of new types of peoples (conversos, Jewish converts to Christianity), religious intolerance and expulsions. Multiple examples of the fluctuations in the relationships of Jews, Christians, and Muslims, are examined as Catholic Spain took shape. Special attention is also directed to Spanish archives that preserve this history. We take a closer look at the end of convivencia in the city of Plasencia, Spain, and view a digital video narration. As the Spanish Middle Ages did not occur in a vacuum, we share with you eight scholarly endeavors from the "Global Middle Ages" Project. The honors section of the course continues with our study of the Historian's Craft and the task of "reflecting" and features the music of the Texas Early Music Project.

已评分: REQUIRED CORE: Formation of Catholic Spain and Its Impact on Religious Minorities

已评分: REQUIRED CORE: Creating Conversos at the End of Positive Coexistence

已评分: Practicing the Historian's Craft: "Reflecting"

第 5 周

Interpreting Iberia's Past: Our Evaluation of the Evidence

The final section of the course prompts students in the Honors Track to interpret and evaluate a historical artifact from medieval Spain (a material object, architecture, or a manuscript). This peer-reviewed project is not a required to complete the course as a regular student.

7 阅读材料

Reading: Thank you for Participating! Hope to See You Again!

Reading: Applying the Historian's Craft

Reading: Assessing an Artifact: Overview of the Peer Review Project

Reading: Artifact #1 (Material Culture): Plate with the Arms of Blanche of Navarre

Reading: Artifact #4 (Architecture and Material Culture): "A Poem is a Robe and a Castle: Inscribing Verses on Textiles and Architecture in the Alhambra"

Discussion Prompt: Why did you choose the artifact that you did?

已评分: Artifact Analysis Peer Review Project

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已评分 4.5，总共 5 个 15 评分

MH

Fascinating material beautifully presented. On an irrelevant point, the instructor's voice is lovely - it sounds more like a guided meditation than a lecture! :-)

I really enjoyed the course, it was very educative and inspring. The videos were, particularly the Virtual Plasencia was quite interesting. I loved how the course rncoutaged the audirnce to wuestion the terminology and meaning of the words within different historical contexts. I highly recommend it to everyone interested in Mediterranean history, history of Spain and Middle Ages. Thank you for this lovely intellectual experience Roger ^_^